Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for a P2,000 monthly allowance for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help cover their daily needs and extra expenses caused by their disability.

Under Senate Bill No. 2386, or the National Disability Support Act, qualified PWDs will receive the allowance through a new government program.

The amount may also be adjusted from time to time based on inflation to make sure its value will not go down.

“Persons with disabilities face additional and often invisible expenses in their daily lives, including transportation, healthcare, personal assistance, and assistive devices. These are essential not only for survival, but for participation in school, work, and community life. When these expenses are not addressed, opportunities are limited, poverty is deepened, and exclusion persists,” Aquino said.

The program will be carried out in stages.

For the first three years, priority will be given to children with disabilities and adults with significant disabilities.

In the next three years, the program will be expanded to persons with moderate disabilities who have extra expenses because of their disability.

Eventually, all qualified PWDs who have disability-related extra costs will be covered.

“This allowance is designed to complement existing social protection programs and empower persons with disabilities to live more independently, pursue education and employment, and participate more actively in society,” he added.

The bill also calls for a Disability and Needs Assessment System (DNAS) to determine who qualifies for the allowance.

Instead of looking only at a person’s income, the system will consider their disability, support needs and difficulties in taking part in school, work and community activities.

The measure also proposes a Disability Management Information System (DMIS) that will be linked to government databases, including the National ID System, Philippine Persons with Disabilities Registry and PhilHealth.

Aquino said the system will help improve government services and make it easier to give benefits directly to qualified PWDs.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will administer the program with the support of the National Council on Disability Affairs and other groups.

“In empowering persons with disabilities, we are not only addressing inequality, but also unlocking potential, strengthening communities, and building a more inclusive and equitable Philippines,” Aquino said.IMT